Elijah Webb Chastain

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Elijah Webb Chastain (September 25, 1813 - April 9, 1874) was an American politician, soldier and lawyer.

Chastain was born near Pickens, South Carolina, in 1813. His family moved to moved to Habersham, Georgia, in 1821. During the Seminole Wars, he served as a captain and a colonel. After receiving admission to the state bar in 1849, Chastain began practice in Blairsville, Georgia. In 1811, Crawford moved to Milledgeville, Georgia.

Elected to represent Georgia's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives as a Unionist during the 32nd United States Congress, Chastain won reelection as a Democrat to an additional term in the 33rd Congress and served in Congress from March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1855.

Chastain was delegate to the Georgia secession convention in Milledgevillein 1860 which passed the Ordinance of Secession. He served as as lieutenant colonel in the Confederate States Army as part of the First Georgia Regiment during the American Civil War. During that time he was also Georgia's attorney for the Western and Atlantic Railroad in 1860 and 1861. Chastain died near Dalton, Georgia, on April 9, 1874, and was buried in his family cemetery near Morganton, Georgia.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Preceded by Thomas C. Hackett

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th congressional district March 4, 1851 - March 3, 1855

Succeeded by John Henry Lumpkin